Somalia, Russia Seek Broader Cultural Ties Through Heritage And Arts

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ST PETERSBURG: Somalia and Russia are looking to turn cultural cooperation into a more practical part of their bilateral relationship, with discussions in St Petersburg focusing on heritage, the arts, research and exchanges between cultural institutions.

The issue was at the centre of talks between Somalia’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Abdifatah Qasim Mohamud, and Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, as the two countries consider expanding cooperation beyond their existing diplomatic and political engagement.

The discussions covered the preservation of Somalia’s cultural heritage as well as opportunities for cooperation in literature, theatre, artistic production and cultural research. The two sides also considered exchanges involving specialists and artists and closer links between cultural institutions.

A key focus was how to move an existing understanding on cultural cooperation towards practical programmes and projects, potentially giving institutions in both countries a larger role in developing cultural exchanges.

The discussions come as the federal government of Somalia seeks to strengthen the role of culture and the creative sector in preserving national identity and connecting communities. Cultural cooperation also offers a channel for people-to-people engagement alongside government relations.

Russia, meanwhile, has expressed interest in maintaining institutional links with Somalia’s cultural sector and supporting further cooperation.

The talks were held on the sidelines of the 12th International United Cultures Forum in St Petersburg, bringing Somali officials into wider discussions on international cultural cooperation.

The engagement points to an effort by Mogadishu and Moscow to broaden the areas in which their relationship operates, using culture and the arts as another avenue for institutional and people-to-people ties.